Two Weeks Given to Revise Russia's Civil Code

Two Weeks Given to Revise Russia's Civil Code: "



Two Weeks Given to Revise Russia's Civil Code

Tuesday, March 14, 2006
by: Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR)

Moscow, Russia, 10 March 2006 - At today's meeting of the Government Commission on Fighting IPR Violations, the draft Part Four of Russia's Civil Code was not approved. The Government Commission supported in general the creation of a Part Four of the Civil Code, but noted that the draft requires revision. The draft will have two weeks for revision, after which the legislation will return to the Commission for consideration.

Olga Barannikova, Representative in Russia of the Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), commented on the Commission's decision: 'Two weeks is a very short time frame to revise such a large project. Rightsholders and experts that have had the opportunity to read the document have already noted many errors and inaccuracies. We are puzzled at the speed in which the Government, without consulting the business community, is trying to push this draft through.'

Rightholders are concerned because Part Four of the Civil Code, which has been prepared for submission into the RF State Duma, was not the subject of public discussion. This draft would annul all special intellectual property rights laws, including the Law on Copyrights and Neighboring Rights, the Law on Trademarks, Service Marks and Appellations of Origins of Goods. The law was prepared by a group of lawyers, without preliminary consultations or agreement from those who will be required to follow the law - rightsholders.
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